At least 23 children died and more than two dozen were hospitalized after consuming contaminated food given during a free school lunch in Gandaman, a village in the impoverished state of Bihar. Here, women sat next to their sick children in a hospital on Wednesday.

At least 23 children died and more than two dozen were hospitalized after consuming contaminated food given during a free school lunch in Gandaman, a village in the impoverished state of Bihar. Here, women sat next to their sick children in a hospital on Wednesday.

A woman sat next to her son, who was receiving treatment in the hospital in Patna. The children suffered from vomiting, fainting and foaming at the mouth after consuming the food. They were initially taken to Sadar hospital in Chapra, a district in Bihar where the school is located, and later transferred to Patna Medical College and Hospital.

A woman sat next to her son, who was receiving treatment in the hospital in Patna. The children suffered from vomiting, fainting and foaming at the mouth after consuming the food. They were initially taken to Sadar hospital in Chapra, a district in Bihar where the school is located, and later transferred to Patna Medical College and Hospital.

A sick girl lay on a bed in the hospital. According to the state's education minister, the school's cook noticed a strange color and foul smell from the cooking oil when preparing lunch. After tasting the food, the cook also became ill and was hospitalized.

A sick girl lay on a bed in the hospital. According to the state's education minister, the school's cook noticed a strange color and foul smell from the cooking oil when preparing lunch. After tasting the food, the cook also became ill and was hospitalized.

Police looked at the sick children undergoing treatment. According to preliminary investigations, organophosphorus, commonly used in farm pesticides, may have been mixed into the meal of rice, beans and potato curry served Tuesday.

Police looked at the sick children undergoing treatment. According to preliminary investigations, organophosphorus, commonly used in farm pesticides, may have been mixed into the meal of rice, beans and potato curry served Tuesday.

People gathered outside the room where the contaminated meal was served to the children. The free lunch was provided under the central government's 'midday meal' plan that aims to provide children at public schools at least one hot meal a day free of cost.

People gathered outside the room where the contaminated meal was served to the children. The free lunch was provided under the central government's 'midday meal' plan that aims to provide children at public schools at least one hot meal a day free of cost.

The scattered belongings of children who consumed the midday meal at the school. There have been previous incidents where students suffered from food poisoning after lizards, snakes and worms were found in the midday meals. However, none of the recent incidents have been as deadly as this, according to Amarkant Jha Amar, a medical superintendent at the hospital in Patna.

The scattered belongings of children who consumed the midday meal at the school. There have been previous incidents where students suffered from food poisoning after lizards, snakes and worms were found in the midday meals. However, none of the recent incidents have been as deadly as this, according to Amarkant Jha Amar, a medical superintendent at the hospital in Patna.